[spazrunaway]

What's the risk of contact with bats outdoors? I often go for twilight walks and see them flying from tree to tree. But I sometimes wonder if a rabid one could swoop by, scrape me with its teeth, and I'd never even know. Maybe that's too paranoid...

[throwawayboise]

You're too paranoid. Bats have good enough echolocation ability to eat mosquitoes out of the air. They aren't going to fly into you by accident.

Bats do a lot of good keeping other insects under control.

[powersurge360]

Bats do do a lot of good, but you also can be bitten by a rabid bat without knowing it.

https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/16/health/cases-a-bat-s-swif...

[inglor_cz]

Bats generally avoid people outdoors.

Your risk grows significantly if you enter their caves etc. Even bat guano is a good source of dangerous pathogens.

If you sleep with your window open, I recommend installation of a screen. Not just against bats, against insects, too. My wife got stung by a hornet when she stepped on it with a bare foot (it was right next to our bed on the floor) and it was a very painful experience. Our next residence is definitely going to include screens.

[woeirua]

Pretty unlikely if you're walking around outside. You'd hear/feel the bat flying near you.

[b112]

More worrisome should be lightning.

Or even dying due to bedsheets.